Recounting my Queenie

Dear Margot,
Today I decided to recount on the big meter+ queen fish I caught in darwin, Australia last november. So this is how it goes.

I clearly remember seeing a small school of baitfish being assaulted by a few flashes of silver which were queenfish and tarpon. From the bow of the Guide’s boat, I casted my fly into the middle of the school of panicking baitfish and let it sink. Almost instantly, I had a humongous strong take. Instinctively, I yanked the fly line in my hand hard to set the hook. In less than a split second, the fly line on the deck seemed to levitate off the ground and fly through the line guides on the already bent rod like a bullet that had just been fired. Before I knew it, I was hanging on to the rod for dear life as the fish continued on its first mad dash. I watched the electric yellow backing melt off the spool like burning a small piece of paper. I somehow magically managed to turn the fish’s head and end its searing mad dash about 120 meters away from the boat. The fun began as I slowly but surely pumped the huge fish back to the boat. I knew he was tired and he knew I was tired too! I thought I had won when I saw the fish but he had the fright of his life and gave me a spectacular jumping and tail-walking display around the boat. He tried to dive but failed and after about 2 minutes of circling the boat, I managed to bring him to the boat side. I held my rod in my mouth and grabbed the fish’s lower jaw with my gloved hand so that Graeme who was the fishing guide could remove the fly which was neatly embedded in corner of its mouth. By the time we were about to release it, the poor fish was lying on its side so I faced it into the current so that water would flow over its gills and hopefully the fish would revive. After a few minutes, I let go of the fish and it swam away unhurt. The whole battle from the time the fish was hooked till it swam away from my hands, lasted about 45minutes.

and that is exactly what happened. Whatever it is, this is my version of the queenie and I will stick to it. It is now rather late so I'd better pack my bag and go to sleep. Good night.

Yours,
An Ren